Agenda and minutes

There were none.

The record of the meeting held on 8 May 2018 was agreed and signed by the Leader as a correct record.  

Disclosable pecuniary interests

There were none.

Other significant interests (OSIs)

Councillor Turpin declared an OSI in agenda item 10 (Medway Norse Update) because he was being appointed to the position of Chairman of the Medway Norse Board. He left the meeting during consideration of this item.

Other interests

There were none.

Background:

This report provided details of the final revenue and capital outturn position for the financial year ended 31 March 2018. The report stated that the final revenue outturn reflected an underspend of £58,000. The report also provided details of the variance between the 2017/18 revenue budget and outurn position for Children and Adults, Regeneration, Culture, Environment and Transformation and Business Support.

The capital programme year end position reflected a carry forward budget of £58,010,000 which would be available for use within 2018/19 and beyond.

It was noted that the final audited Statement of Accounts would be presented to the Audit Committee on 30 July 2018 for consideration and approval.

Reasons:

The Cabinet is the body charged with the executive management of the Council’s budget. Therefore, it is important that the final outturn is reported to Cabinet.

Background:

This report provided details of the outcome of consultation on the Strood Waterfront Development Brief 2018. The aim of the updated policy would be to support the Council’s ambitions to realise the regeneration opportunities presented by a number of sites in Strood, to secure investment and deliver development that would boost the area’s economic, environmental and community wellbeing.

The report stated that a public consultation had been undertaken for an eight week period and was carried out in accordance with the Medway Statement of Community Involvement 2014. In summary, there were 82 respondents to the consultation survey. 83% of residents responding to the consultation stated that they would like to see the regeneration of the Strood Waterfront sites. Details of the outcome of the consultation were set out in section 6 and Appendix C to the report.

A Diversity Impact Assessment had been undertaken on the proposals, details of which were set out in Appendix B to the report.

Reasons:

Adopting the Strood Waterfront Development Brief as a Supplementary Planning Document will enable the Development Brief to form part of the Council’s development plan, and allow the marketing of the sites at Riverside and Civic to proceed and bring forward homes at pace, through providing greater certainty to the development sector.

Background:

This report provided details of the Utilisation of Commuted Sums Policy. Council and Government policy currently required affordable housing to be provided on site to meet housing need and create mixed sustainable communities. The process for achieving this was via the Council’s section 106 negotiation process. When the Council was unable to achieve the contribution as built units, a commuted affordable sum could be sought from the developer to enable the delivery of affordable housing on another site. This policy would provide the basis for when it would be appropriate to seek a commuted sum, how it would be calculated and how it would be spent.

Details of the consultation undertaken on the proposals was set out in section 5 of the report. A Diversity Impact Assessment had been undertaken on the proposals, as set out in Appendix 3 to the report.

Reasons:

Approval of the Policy will allow the allocation of commuted sums to deliver affordable housing to meet the housing need of Medway’s residents. Delivering new homes will reduce the financial burden placed on the Council for placing households in temporary accommodation.

Background:

This report provided details of an application from High Halstow Parish Council to designate a Neighbourhood Area for the purpose of preparing a Neighbourhood Plan.

The report stated that a Neighbourhood Plan was a community-led framework for guiding the future development, regeneration and conservation of an area. Neighbourhood planning was being promoted as a means of involving local people in planning the future development of their areas. A Neighbourhood Plan could cover a wide range of economic, social and environmental issues, or could choose to focus on a small number of selected matters. The Neighbourhood Plan would form part of the statutory development plan for the area, alongside Medway Council’s own planning policy documents.

The report stated that High Halstow Parish Council submitted an application for the designation of its parish area as a Neighbourhood Area on 11 May 2018, for the purpose of preparing a Neighbourhood Plan. The Council was required to publish the application for the proposed Neighbourhood Area for a minimum period of 4 weeks. The Council would then be required to determine the application for the Neighbourhood Area within eight weeks from the date immediately following that on which the application was first published.

Reasons:

Cabinet approval is required to meet statutory requirements in preparing Neighbourhood Plans. As the application is valid and consistent with legislation and there are no grounds on which to reject the application.

Background:

This report provided a review of the various Cabinet Advisory Groups and asked the Cabinet to agree to the re-establishment of the Groups for 2018/2019.  The report noted that these Groups did not have any decision making powers and could consist of both executive and non-executive Councillors.

Reasons:

The re-establishment of these groups will support the Cabinet in decision-making and the development of policies.

Background:

This report provided details of how the Council had performed in 2017/18 against the Council’s three priorities using 40 key measures of success and 13 programmes which supported these priorities.

It was explained that, with regards to quarter 4, it was only possible to report on 35 of the key measures of success as 5 were not currently available. It was noted that 65.7% of key measures of success were on target and that 76.5% of key measures of success had improved over the long term.

It was also noted that the report would be considered by the Overview and Scrutiny Committees between June-July.

Cabinet Members highlighted a number of key issues during discussion.

Reasons:

Regular monitoring of performance by management and members is best practice and ensures achievement of corporate objectives.

Background:

This report outlined the achievements and performance of Medway Norse up to the end of the 2017/2018.

It was noted that Medway Norse provided services to the Council in four areas – Facilities Management, Grounds Maintenance, Special Educational Needs (SEN) transport and Household Waste. The report gave details of these areas of operation, together with information relating to governance, local business participation, the corporate client function and the rebate for the Council.

It was noted that the Business Support Overview and Scrutiny Committee would also consider this report on 5 July 2018.

Reasons:

When the Cabinet agreed to establish the joint venture company it was also agreed that regular monitoring reports would be provided to Cabinet.

Background:

This report presented information on a number of vacancies that officers had requested approval to commence recruitment for, following the process agreed by Cabinet on 7 January 2003 (decision number 9/2003).

Details of the posts were set out within Appendix 1 to the report and the addendum report tabled at the meeting.

Reasons:

The posts presented to Cabinet will support the efficient running of the Council.